Friday December 13 2024
Swindon & Wiltshire News
Castledown Business Centre has received a £2.6m boost in the form of a repayable grant from the Government´s Growing Places pot.
The funding has been awarded to Wiltshire Council for the second phase of the development at Castledown Business Park following phase one, Fitz Gilbert Court, and the recent creation of business incubation space at the Ludgershall development.
The £9.3 million Growing Places Infrastructure Fund was launched in March 2012. The fund is a revolving repayable grant that invests in infrastructure projects which may have been stalled by recent economic turbulence and/or need extra funding in order to “tip the balance” and accelerate delivery.
Paul Johnson, Chair of the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to make this announcement regarding the Growing Places Infrastructure Fund. The project at Castledown Business Centre has demonstrated an ability to drive growth in Swindon and Wiltshire and we’re confident the funding will prove to be a valuable long term investment.”
Fleur de Rhe-Philipe, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, said, “This is excellent news, not just for the business owners and entrepreneurs but for the local community and Wiltshire as a whole.”
“Castledown Business Centre focuses on supporting the local economy by helping people who wish to start up a new business, and companies which want to expand.
“Its links with Wellington Academy and the MoD means young people and former service personnel are helped to nurture and develop their skills and enthusiasm.
“Phase two will see this site expand, underlining our commitment to bringing more jobs to the area and boosting the local economy.”
And Tidworth MP Mark Connolly said: “This will mean a further 15 units from 710 to 6,100 sq ft. This is really good news for atracting businesses to the area or for those in Phase One that want larger premises. There has already been interest in the new units, which is encouraging.”
The 33 acre business park has planning consent for 420,000 square feet of office, distribution and industrial space.
